Extension boom for excavators



Nov. 17, 1931.

A. J. PENOTE.

EXTENSION BOOM FOR EXCAVATORS Filed Jan.

25 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet f/zy zzsfzzs .1 Female. W

Nov; 17, 1931.

A. J. PENOTE EXTENSION BOOM FOR EXCAVATORS Filed Jan. 25, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17, 1931.

A. J. PENOTE 1,832,787

EXTENSION BOOM FOR EXCAVATORS Filed Jan. 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fluql/s 77/5 I PEA/a r5.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1931 warren srarss AUGUSTUS J. PENGTE, OF SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO EXTENSION BOOIvI FOB EXCAVATORS Application filed January 25, 1929. Serial No. 334,971.

My invention relates to extension booms for excavators especially adapted to the digging. of trenches; and the particular object thereof is to provide a simple and convenient machine including therein the so-called endless chain digger whose chain or endless carrier will support thereon a series of spaced scoops or buckets adapted to carry dirt or any other mineral matter upwardly on one side andreturn them empty to the lower end of the chain to be again filled for propulsion as before. 7

The present invention relates particularly, to the improvement in the manner I have 5 discovered in adjusting the length of the endless carrier. and therefore, of a practicable and etlicient means of adjusting the length of the support or boom upon wh ch the endless chain or carrier is supported. Generally stated, the obiect of mv invention is to provide an adiustable mechanism for the said boom which will retain a suitably strong support or boom at varvinn: positions of the boom and at varying lengths of the same.

A further obiect of my invention is to provide an adjustable boom for an endless dinning chain or car ier designed to be mounted on. the rear of a motor driven machine which is supported solely on endless tractors, the motor being mounted on the o posite or forward end of the mach ne. While the sa d endless carrier will ordinarily 3 be ivoted on the machine frame at varying inclination. to adiust the depth of the trench to be excavated, the spec al means of mouutinc the carrier. will not be set forth in this applicat on in detail, but this case will be con vfined especially to the efiicient adjustment of the boom.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the comthe details of construction hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a telescopic b nation and arrangement of parts and in 7 extension boom supporting an endless chain excavator, and shown contracted to its approximate limit;

Figure 2 is asimilar View of the same structure, but shown adjustably extended to its approximate limit;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a section of the boom and chain, showing in detail the adjusting rod and related parts, all on a much larger scale than the first two views;

Figure l is a side elevation of a supporting boom and endless chain mounted upon a tractor frame and shown in operation excavating a trench, a section being omitted to reduce space; p

Figure 5 is a plan view of the boom sec 'tion shown in Figure 3, parts being broken away; 7

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the boom taken in the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. and Y Figure 7 is a transverse section of the boom ta 'en in the plane indicated by the line 77 of Fig. 3.

The drawings show the preferred form of my invention. but it will be understood that the improvements disclosed are not restricted to the e act details shown and that I reserve the ri ht to make such minor changes therein, within the scope of appended claims. as mav from t me to time be found desirable.

My improved boom 10 is designed to support various endless carriers. which may comprise a single or double chain, or may in clude a greater number of endless elements and may be connected together by suitable transverse members which may serve other functions as well as that of connecting the parallel members traveling together. Such carriers may also be used for a variety of purposes, such as carrying excavating buckets, for conveying functions of material handled by receptacles, hooks or other conveying elements, or for loading purposes in general.

Whatever the character of carrier supported thereon, my boom will be adiustable in length, and will comprise at least two sections 11 and 12. the former 11 having a smaller inner end 13 intended to telescope into the larg r inner end let of the section 12, as

shown. The result, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is that of telescoping tubes polygonal in cross section. The larger section 12 is formed of lateral and end plates 15 and 16, as shown in such cross section, with corner angle bars securing the longitudinal plates 15 and 16 together at their edges. The lower angle bars 17 are at ached by their horizontal flanges to the upper surface or the lower plate 15, while the vertical flanges are applied outside the lower ends of the end plates 16; but the upper angle bars 18 are applied outside the up )Gl plate 15, as well as the end plate 16.

Rivets 19, or other securing;- means fixedly secure the bars 17 to the plates 15 and 16, and thereby hold these plates in relative position and at the same time presenting; an otherwise sinooth lower surface for the boom. The horizontal flanges ot the upper angle bars 18 are fastened to the upper plate 15 suitably, as by the rivets 21.

The smaller telescoping section 11 is formed of end plates 22 as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, parallel with the end plates 16 oi the larger section. but slightly spaced from the outer plates by the vertical flanges of angle bars 23 outside the ethics of the plates 22 and the side plates 24. and 25 of the inner tube. The upper plate 25 of the inner tubu lar section is widely spaced from the upper side plate 15 of the larger section 12, and.

held in said spaced relation by inner angle bars 20 whose lower flanges are contiguous with. though unattached to, the angle bars 23 of the inner section 11. The vertical flanges of the bars 20 are apertured to receive therethrough a series of rivets 26 which serve to fasten the vertical flanges of the bars 18 and 20 as well as the upper edges of the side plates 16 therebetween.

It is evident that the angle bars 20 read ily serve as spacing elements and permit slidable movement of the inner booin section 1! beneath said bars. In such movement, the horizontal flanges of the lower angle bars 23 will Contact the up er surface of the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 17, the rivets 2T securing the plates 24; and 25 to the bars having); sniooth outer end surfaces to more freely with such bars in contact with the bars 17 and 20. The nature of the telescoping structure above described clearly discloses the position of the inner boom section 11 adjacent the bottom of the outer section 12 and thereby provides a very stable connection for the two sections whether greatly extend ed or contracted.

The outer ends of the sections 11 and are provided with con entional pairs of sprockets 28 over which the endless chains are guided. Each chain is made up oi. the usual links some of which may he disconnected, tor the purpose of lengtheninr; or shorteningthe chains by removing or insert ing certain links, as may he found necessary.

sioes oi"? the boom, connect'ne' the two scctions 11 and 12 together, their ends opposite the ends cairviu the eyes 31. piercing lateral lu s Seton the larger section 12, and provided 1, 1. 1 :1. o securiu nuts oo on cacn side 01 the whereby the two sections may be ad- L relatively by manipulating the said nuts on the bars. The two forms oi: ad usthe employed separately or at one I 1'\ s i ian i l l a, Llib e es or wan tipu. Jar 3 may he shirted from the position shown in i to tl it shown in Fig. 2, and at the it .ie time die nuts may be screwed furbars 32, from which it will i gent that either form of adjustment JG :inployed without the other.

. especially to Figs. 3, G and 2". itwill he not d that the pull bar 33 extends through a slot in the plates 22 as well as in the plates 10. the projecting ends of the pull bar serving for attatdnnent oi the eyes 31 thereon, as shown with particular clarity in Fig K. To rerin longitudinal adjustment of the bars in e it th lugs 32!: by means of the nuts 3;), the engaging eyes 31 must move, together with tl c ZIOSS-8l0111011t-tl16 pull bar 33, towards and from the said lut's. To accentplish this, the end plates 1d of the larger section 12 are provided with elongated slots 36 which are shown very clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, indicated in Fig. '7, but are concealed hr the bars 3:. in Figs. 1, 3 and 1e plates for receiving the m. i bar, .1 especially elongated, but have the form oi a :S-SGCtlOD ot the bar 33. Consideriua tins ructure recited in the paragraphs in'nnediatelv preceding, it will be evident that the pull bar may remain inserted in the plates while the ends of the bar are adjusted in the slots when the nuts 35 are moved upon the rods 32. When the bar 2-33 reniovezil. the inner section 11 may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3. For this reason, the :tion 11 provided with two pairs of slots to receive the pull bar, all of which slots are in the plates 22. It a wider variation desired in the length of the boom, more than two pairs of slots may be provided in the plates 22. such other being added in alineinent with the slots shown in 1, 3 and 4:.

sesame I claim a very positive advantage in the assembling of the sections 11 and 12, both polygonal in cross-section, and here shown as rectangular. Not only is there combined in this structure a strong, telescopically adjusted boom, and onecapable of great resistance to twisting strains, but also one which is remarkably light in weight when its great strength is appreciated. Its great resistance to transverse strains is equally pronounced.

is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the boom 10 is itself pivot-ed upon the shaft 37 mounted in a suitableframe of a vehicle trencher, this shaft also bearing the upper sprockets 28 upon which the chains 29 are guided, and the-latter provided with buckets 43. The upper section 12-of the boom is provided with a pair of lugs 38, one of which is seen in Fig; 4. These lugs are connected with a suitable portion of the trencherframe, usually above the tractors 39, by brace bars to hold the swinging boom at the proper inclination to the vertical while in opera-' tion. Suitable masts 41 are also included in the supporting frame, butthesc parts will not be further described, since the frame structure of the excavatingmachine, other than that of the boom itself. is not claimed in this case. Referenccis made to appl cants rending application Ser. No. 196,745 for swinging conveyor trenchers, for further details of an excavating machine upon which my adjustableboom may be used.

It is well known that adjustability of a boom carrying endless chains bearing excavating buckets, is especially useful to vary the depth of trench to be excavated. Since the pivot upon which the upper sprocket of the boom is mounted is ordinarily permanent and fixed, such adjustment will usually be made by varying the length of boom. Of course, adjustment of the brace bars 40 may vary the depth of trench by varying the inclination of the boom, yet there is a practicable limit to the extent that sucn inclination may be varied; and my improved form of means for lengthening the boom enables th user to increase the depth of trench without moving the lower end of the boom too near the frame of the machine. Difiiculties have been encountered in the past in attempting telescopic adjustment of the boom, but

' the weakening of the boom wien extended has resulted in general abandonment of the structure as attempted.

Former ditiiculties in the construction of telescopic adjusted booms I have overcome, I believe, by the provision of the tubular sections 11 and 12 of the boom, providing the hollow polygonal sections built up from separate plates connected at their edges by the strong angle plates or bars, and the two sections being so related that the angle plates of one will bear directly upon those of the other section. This-latter construction results in very eflicient and durable boom structure and makespossible that the wear between the sections in the proposed adjustment, will be borne wholly by the angle bars.

The operation of the device is as follows The outer section. 12 of the boom may be built up first by assembling the plates 15. and 16 by securing their edges by the angle bars 17' and 18, the bars 1:? being positioned above the lower plate 15 to provide a substantially smooth lower surface for the main portion of the boom. The angle bars 20 will be positioned on the inner surface of the plates 16 when the rivets 26 are applied. The lugs 34 are carried by this section. The section 12 is now complete, and after the inner section 1.1. has been built up in much the same manner and. as before described, section 11 may then be inserted within section 12, resulting in the veryeihcient arrangement of the lower angle bars resting upon the bars 17, while the upper bars 23 bear directly upon the angle bars 20.

The threaded ends of the rods 32 are now the r od 32.

Mypresent invention is not particularly concerned with the manner of mounting the boom upon the machine frame, but concerns the structure of the adjustable boom per se. While the boom is shown pivoted upon the shaft 37 to which power is applied from a suitable gearing, this is merely illustrative and the power shaft and hinge shaft need not be identical. Other traction means may also be employed, and other mechanism used to vary the inclination of the assembled boom.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an endless chain and bucket excavating mechanism, an adjustable boom comprising telescopic tubular metal sections, a trans.

verse pull bar extending through one section with its ends protruding externally, and latera lly positioned rodshaving eyes on one end thereof fitting. the ends of said bar, and the opposite ends connected with the other section.-

2. In an endless chain and bucket excavating mechanism, a longitudinally adjusting boom comprising telescopic tubular sect-ions rectangular in cross section, and each comprising parallel side and end metal plates mounted in pairs and whose edges are securely fixed in spaced relation by angle bars riveted thereto, the angle bars of the inner section being slidably mounted upon certain angle bars at the corners of the outer section, and means for holding the boom sections in longitudinally adjusted relative position.

3. In an endless cha n and bucket excavating mechanism. an adjustable boom comprising telescopic tubular metal sections polygonal in cross section and one of them provided with laterally extending lugs, a transverse pull bar extending through apertures in the walls of one section with the ends of the bar protruding externally, and laterally positioned rods extendinglengthwise of the boom and having eyes on one end thereof fitting the ends of said pull bar, and the opposite ends adjustablv connected with the said luvs.

4. In an endless chain and bucket excavating mechanism, an adjustable boom comprisinsr telescopic tubular sections, one of which sections is rectangular in cross section and comprises parallel. side and end metal plates Whose edges are securely tixed in spaced relation by angle bars riveted to said plates. and the inner section having transverse pairs of openings spaced apart in the direction of the lene'th ot' the boom, a transve se pull bar extending through one pair of said open ngs with its ends protruding evternally. and laterally positioned rods having; eves on one end thereo fitting the ends of sa d bar, and the opposite ends connected with the other section.

5. In an endless chain and bucket excavating mechanism. a lon ritudinallv adjus able boom compris nq telescopic sect ons each being torm d of elongated metal plates secured to -ether in spaced rela ion at their an .QUlill ed es bv angle bars riveted to said plates, and external means for connectin'r the two boom sections n relative adi sted position.

6. In an endless Chain and bucl et excavatine' me hanism. an adjustab e bo m comp isin te escopic tubular metal sections one of which has lateral estend ne lug-s. a transve se null bar extending thro gh the other sec on with its e ds protr ding externallv, and laterally pos ioned rods havin eves on one end there f fit ng the ends 0' the b r, and the opposite ends of the rods adjustably conne ted to s id lurrs.

7. In an endless cha n and bucket excav tin r m chanism. an adiustah e boom comprising telesco ic tubular sections. the lat er bein polvo' na in cr ss section and comp isin lonrritudinal metal p ates se ure to'rether in spaced relation at their ed' es bv an le bars ri eted the e o. certa n plates o e inner section havin tran vers pairs of nings spac d apart in the direction ot the len th of the boom. a transverse pull bar extending throu 'h anv one of said pairs se ect velv nd with its ends nro rud n e te ally, and connecting means for rigidly holding the said bar at a predetermined distance from the ends of the outer section.

8. In an endless chain and bucket exca vating mechanism, an adjustable boom comprising telescopic tubular sections, the latter being rectangular in cross section and comprising longitudinal metal plates secured together at their edges, certain plates of the inner section having transverse pairs of openings spaced apart in the direction ot the length of the boom, a transverse pull bar extending through any one of said pairs selectively and with its ends protruding externally, screw-threaded connecting rods having eyes on one end th ds of the. bar, laterally extei ding po nod on the outer section, the said lugs having apertures for receiving the said rods theretarough, and certain plates of the outer section having elongated slots through which the pull bar may c end transversely and be moved therein lo tudinally of the boom, and locking nuts car ied by said rods on either side of said lu s, whereby the length of the boom may be adjusted bv mounting the bar in different pairs of said openings, or changing the position of said nuts on the rods. or by both adjustments.

9. In an endless chain and bucket excavating mechanism, an adjustable boom comprising telescopic tubular ctions rec-3a eular in cross section, and each con'iprising parallel side and end elongated metal plates whose edges are securely fixed in spaced relation by angle bars riveted to said plates adjacent the edges, the inner of said sections fitting Within the outer sections neatly in a lateral direction, but being shallower in depth than the outer section and held adjacent the bottom plate of said outer section by angle bars riveted to the upper side walls of the section and. within the latter, \viereby to space the upper plates of the two sections apart, and m s for bold ing the boom sections in adjusted relative position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto my hand this 21st dav of January, .5 D. 1929.

AUGUSTUS J. PEdOtllE. 

